California State Senate Pro Tem Don Perata ‘s office reported slight progress Thursday afternoon on crafting a new state budget, but also signaled that the state will go at least through the Fourth of July weekend without a new spending plan.

State Sen. Tom McClintockCalifornia State Sen. Tom McClintock will make two public appearances over the Independence Day weekend, including one that could bring him face to face with Charlie Brown, his opponent in the 4th Congressional District race.

McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) will participate in a Fourth of July parade Friday morning in Lincoln, where Brown, a Democrat from Roseville, is also scheduled to appear.

On Sunday, McClintock will attend a Fourth of July parade in Graeagle, in Plumas County.

Congressional Candidate Charlie Brown: Campaign photoCongressional candidate Charlie Brown has released a three-day slate of activities related to the Independence Day weekend, while criticizing Republican opponent Tom McClintock for not doing the same.

Brown, a Democrat running in California's 4th Congressional District, will visit six different cities in the district, which stretches over a few hundred miles of northeastern California.

The California Senate on Thursday approved a joint resolution calling on the federal government to halt crackdowns on licensed medical marijuana dispensaries.

The resolution, SJR 20, was approved 24 to 15 and was authored by outgoing state Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco.)

Certified results from the Contra Costa County's elections office make Abram Wilson the winner of the Republican primary in the California 15th Assembly District.

Wilson, the mayor of San Ramon, won by about 300 votes over Robert Rao, a small businessman from Livermore.  That gave Wilson about 30 percent of the vote and Rao 29.5 percent.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday announced that he has signed into law a bill that will shed greater light on state government contracts.

Senate Bill 1696 will now also open up the results of governmental audits and reviews of public agencies. Authored by state Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) the bill would prohibit a state or local agency from allowing an outside entity to control the disclosure of information that is otherwise subject to the California Public Records Act.

Legislation to help Californians ensnared in the subprime home loan foreclosure crisis was forwarded to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for signature or veto this week.

Senate Bill 1137, authored by senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), would require lenders to contact property owners to attempt to avoid foreclosure, provide tenants additional time to move from a foreclosed property and mandate maintenance of foreclosed properties to diminish the impact on the value of neighboring homes.

Two days after a potential top rival announced an exploratory bid for California governor, Attorney General Jerry Brown reported another $124,100 in donations Thursday to his Brown 2010 campaign account.

Brown, who has not ruled out another run for the gubernatorial job he held from 1975 to 1983, would also have to run for re-election in his current job in two years to keep that seat.

So much for our promise to liberate Iraq, not to occupy it, and not to cart off its riches.